Metal reinforced block floor



- June 1933- D. A. WALLACE METAL REINFORCED BLOCK FLOOR Filed May 15, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l INYENTQR. I Dav/007. ZUcz//ace;. BY 5 ATTORNEY$ June 14, v CE METAL REINFORCED BLOCK FLOOR Filed May 13, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 28 -/ll IIIIIJIIIIIJIJUIJIIIIIHHHIIHIIJIIIJII j fg. Z0

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ATTORNEYS Patented June 14, 1938 ZJZASd UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METAL REINFORCED BLOCK FLOOR David A. Wallace, Detroit, Mich.

Application May 13, 1935, Serial No. 21,142

14 Claims. (01. 20'75) The present invention pertains to hardwood block floors of the type wherein the blocks are laid end grain as shown in my copending application Serial No. 21,143, filed May 13, 1935.

The primary object .of the present invention is to provide metallic means for assembling and securing a plurality of hardwood blocks end grain into a unitary structure so that a group of such blocks may be handled as a single unit. Thus a group of blocks may be placed in a floor as a single unit and the necessity of individually placing each block on a previously formed base is eliminated.

In standard block floor construction the conventional practice is to provide a concrete base, to cover the same with a layer of sand, and to place the blocks on the sand cushion thus provided. In order to provide a smooth, level floor surface great care and skill must be exercised in tamping each block in the sand. An important object of the present invention is to eliminate the concrete floor or base and to provide a block floor which may be directly mounted upon conventional floor joists. In this connection the blocks are assembled and secured in strip-like form by a metal reinforcing member so that a strip of blocks may be handled and secured to floor joists in the same manner that ordinary floor boards are secured in place on the joists.

When wood blocks which rest upon a sand cushion on a concrete floor are subjected to severe wearing conditions such as trucking the sand tends to wear the ends of the blocks and after a period of use an irregular floor surface results. In this connection the invention aims to provide means for assembling the blocks together in strips which may be conveniently handled and to construct this means so that in the .event that a sand cushion is employed the sand does not contact with the lower ends of the blocks.

7 In view of the fact that the exclusion of air from the lower ends of the blocks results in dis integration thereof the invention aims to provide means for assembling series of blocks together in units and to construct this means so that air may freely circulate between the same and the ends of the blocks.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a metal channel for receiving the ends of a plurality of blocks and means for securing the ends of the blocks in the channel so that the groups of blocks may be handled as a unit. The metal channels are formed with reinforcing ing the blocks in the channels.

means providing sufiicient mechanical strength whereby the units may be handled without bending in a manner tending to destroy the alignment of the blocks and to prevent deflection when the units are mounted on spaced apart joists and subjected to loads.

With the above and other ends in view the invention consists in matters hereinafter more particularly pointed out with reference to the accompanying drawings, in Which-- Figures 1 and 2 are cross sections of a floor;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3-4 of Figure 2;

Fig. 4 is a section of the reinforcing member;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan of the reinforcing member;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a block;

Figs. 7 and 8 are elevations of a modified form of block;

Figs. 9 and 11 are sections of a modified form of channel;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary elevation of the channel, and

Fig. 12 is a section of still another form of channel.

Like characters of reference are employed throughout to designate corresponding parts.

In Figures 1, 2 and 3 the numeral l designates conventional floor joists having secured thereto metal channel members 2 which support series of blocks 3. Each channel member 2 has its bottom wall corrugated, the corrugations being formed so as to provide flat inner and outer bearing surfaces 4 and 5 respectively. The corrugations tend to reinforce the channel mem bers and also provide air passages 6 beneath the blocks when the latter are assembled in the channels. The channels 2 are formed to provide a lengthwise extending groove 1 at one edge and a lengthwise extending tongue 8 at the other. When the channel members are assembled on the-joists the tongue on each channel extends into the groove on the next adjacent channel as illustrated in Fig. 1.

The side walls 9 of the channel members are provided with a series of spaced apart prongs II) which are driven into the blocks 3 and the upper edges of the side walls are pressed into the blocks to provide additional securing means for fasten- It will be seen from the drawings that the side walls of the block extend perpendicular to the bottom wall whereas the side walls of the-channels are inclined inwardly. In order to assemble. the blocks in the channels the side walls must be sprung apart and their natural resiliency tends to urge them toward the blocks after the springing pressure is removed. Therefore, after the upper edges of the side walls have been driven under high pressure into the blocks the natural resiliency of the metal does not act in a direction to destroy this imbedded relationship but acts in a reverse direction.

At intervals corresponding to the spacing of the floor joists I the side walls of the channel members have ears struck inwardly and imbedded in the blocks and nails l2 are passed obliquely through apertures l3 and I4 in the ears and bottoms of the channels respectively, and are imbedded in the joists I.

The part of each block which projects above the channel 2 has laterally projecting parts IS with vertical faces adapted to abut similar faces on an adjacent block when several of the channels are laid side by side as shown in Fig. 1.

In Figures 7 and 8 there is illustrated a block 20 having its bottom surface provided with grooves 2|. A plurality of blocks, as constructed, are adapted to be inserted in a channel member such as shown in Figures 9, 1'0 and 11 and which is provided with a series of ribs 22 in its bottom wall 23. The side walls 24 of the channels are provided with prongs 25 adapted to be driven into the blocks in the same manner as described in connection with the first embodiment of the invention. The side walls 24k are also perforated to provide tabs 26 having apertures 21' for receiving nails as also above described. In addition, the side walls 24 are slitted at their upper edges to provide a series of independent fingers 28 each of which is pressed into the wood of the blocks.'

Figure 11 illustrates the manner in which the side walls 24 are spread apart in order that the blocks may be placed therein, this being accomplished by flexing the bottom wall 23'. After the blocks have been placed in the channel so that the surfaces of the ribs 22 engage the surfaces of the grooves 2| the side walls 24 are pressed inwardly and the prongs 25 are imbedded in the blocks. The fingers 28 are also bent inwardly and imbedded in the blocks and act to retain the blocks within the channel. Providing the upper edges of the channel walls with fingers 2 8 provides more effective securing means than is attained by bending in the unbroken edges of the side walls 9, as above described, for the reason that the fingers may be driven into wood blocks of varying hardness and resiliency and the fingers may be embedded dilferent distances relative one to another without causing deflectionof the side walls 24.

This latter form of channel member is suited for building constructions wherein the floor joists are spaced apart a greater distance than in connection with the channel 2 because the area of the bearing surfaces of the blocks and channels is greatly increased.

In the form illustrated in Figure 12 the channel 39 has a smooth bottom wall 3'! with substantially perpendicular side walls 32 having a tongue 33 at one side and a groove 34 at the other. In this form the blocks are placed within the channel and secured by prongs as above described or they may be secured by driving nails through the walls '32 into the blocks.

The channels 2 are shown with the alternating ribs and grooves running throughout the length thereof because this construction has the added advantage that it provides the air passages which are desirable in certain installations. However, some building constructions are such that the continuous air passages are not absolutely essential and in such cases the reinforcing means may take other forms. For example the ribs and grooves might be interrupted throughout the length and relatively staggered in the manner well known in the sheet metal art and therefore not shown here.

It is pointed out that the blocks may be creosoted or waterproofed and they may be attached one to-another by an adhesive. Inasmuch as creosoted, or weather-proofed or glued blocks are highly inflammable the metal reinforcing means has the added advantage in that it renders the bottom thereof fireproof. That is to say, a floor formed with the present invention provides a fire proof ceiling, and in the event the metal channels are reinforced the reinforcing formations may take such form as to provide an attractive ceiling.

Although specific embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and describedit" will be understood that various changes may be made within the scope of the appended claims'without departing from the spirit of the invention, and such changes are contemplated.

What I claim is:- r

1. In combination, a channel member, blocks received in said channel member, and means int e'gr al with the side walls of the channel for securing the blocks in the channel, said means comprisinga series of prongs imbedded in the blocks, and a series of relatively independent fingers formed along the upper edges of the side walls and imbedded in the blocks.

2: In a construction of the character described, a channel member formed with reinforcing ribs with grooves therebetween extending throughout the length' thereof, and blocks received in said channels and resting on top of said ribs' and spacedby said ribs from the bottoms of said grooves whereby to form air passages.

3. In aconstruction of the character described, a channel member formed with reinforcing ribs with grooves therebetween extending throughout the length thereof, and blocks received in said channels, said blocks having their bottom surfaces provided with grooves receiving the ribs on said channel whereby the surfaces of the blocks adjacent to the grooves therein engage the bottoms of the grooves in said channel.

4. In combination, a channel member, blocks having their lower ends received in said channel member, the upper edges of the side walls of said channel being imbe'dded in said blocks to retain them in said channel, and means in said side walls for the reception of trails for securing said channel to joists.

5. In combination, a channel member, blocks having their lower ends received in said channel member, the upper edges of the side wallsof said channel being imbedded in said blocks to retain them in said channel, and means in said side walls for the reception of nails for securing said channel to joists, the said upper edges of said side walls being provided with a series of kerfs.

6. A floor comprised of spaced apart supporting members, a plurality of blocks of a width less than the space between the supporting members, and metal reinforcing members bridging said spaced apart supporting members and having said blocks secured with respect thereto, said metal reinforcing members comprising the sole support for said blocks.

7'. In combination, a channel member formed of resiliently flexible metal and comprising two side walls united by an integral web portion, a plurality of blocks received in said channel, said blocks being of a width greater than the normal spacing of said side walls whereby they are retained between said side walls by the friction induced through inserting them therein, and prongs formed on said side walls and maintained imbedded in said blocks by the pressure exerted by said side walls due to their natural resiliency and the insertion of over-sized blocks therein.

8. In combination, a channel member formed of resiliently flexible metal and comprising two side walls united by an integral web portion, a plurality of blocks received in said channel, said blocks being of a Width greater than the normal spacing of said side walls whereby they are retained between said side walls by the friction induced through inserting them therein, said web portion being formed with alternating ribs and grooves extending lengthwise thereof and rigidifying the flexible metal from which said channel is formed, said grooves functioning as air passages.

9. In combination, a channel member formed of resiliently flexible metal and comprising two side walls united by an integral web portion, a plurality of blocks received in said channel, said blocks being of a width greater than the normal spacing of said side walls whereby they are retained between said side walls by the friction induced through inserting them therein, and prongs formed on said side walls and maintained imbedded in said blocks by the pressure exerted by said side walls due to their natural resiliency and the insertion of over-sized blocks therein, said web portion being formed with alternating ribs and grooves extending lengthwise thereof and rigidifying the flexible metal from which said channel is formed, said grooves functioning as air passages.

10. A channel member formed of resiliently flexible metal and comprising a pair of side walls united by an integral web portion, said side walls normally converging as they extend outwardly from said web portion whereby they exert an inward resilient pressure upon blocks inserted therein and create friction to maintain the blocks therein.

11. A channel member formed of resiliently flexible metal and comprising a pair of side walls united by an integral web portion, said side walls normally converging as they extend outwardly from said web portion whereby they exert an inward resilient pressure upon blocks inserted therein and create friction to maintain the blocks therein, the upper edges of said side walls being kerfed to provide series of independent fingers.

12. A channel member formed of resiliently flexible metal and comprising a pair of side walls united by an integral web portion, said side walls normally converging as they extend outwardly from said web portion whereby they exert an inward resilient pressure upon blocks inserted therein and create friction to maintain the blocks therein, the web portion of said channel being formed with alternating ribs and grooves extending lengthwise thereof and rigidifying the flexible metal of which said channel is formed.

13. In combination, a channel member formed of resiliently flexible metal and comprising two side walls united by an integral Webportion, a plurality of blocks received in said channel, said blocks being of a width greater than the normal spacing of said side walls whereby they are retained between said side walls by the friction induced through inserting them therein, said side walls being kerfed to provide a plurality of fingers.

14. In combination, a channel member formed. of resiliently flexible metal and comprising two side walls united by an integral web portion, a plurality of blocks received in said channel, said blocks being of a width greater than the normal spacing of said side walls whereby they are retained between said side walls by the friction induced through inserting them therein, said side walls being kerfed to provide a plurality of fingers, and said fingers being bent inwardly from the normal plane of said side Walls.

DAVID A. WALLACE. 

